PROPER FOOD COMBINING

Food combining and why we do it.

In Ayurveda, proper food combinations are a basic principle and pillar. It is said that one of the main causes of disease is low Agni caused by poor food combining. Food combining means the foods that we pair together when we eat a meal. There are certain foods that are incompatible due to their qualities. For example, some foods have a sour post-digestive effect while others have a sweet digestive effect. When mixed, they create problems. This is the case of bananas and milk, one of the worst food combinations. Our digestion breaks each of these components down in a different way and uses different enzymes to do so. When we mix these different qualities, we can end up with a stomach ache, bloating/gas, reflux, or fatigue after eating.These are all signs that your body is having trouble breaking your meal down.

Some best practices to keep in mind: [source: Banyan Botanicals)

• Keep your proteins simple and separate

• Dairy is a protein that is best eaten alone or with other grains.

• The “heavier” the meal, the heavier it will be on your digestion (sometimes we need this heavy quality, just be aware of the state of your digestion when you eat it).

• Fruit is best eaten alone or left alone.

Food Combining Chart, Banyan Botanicals

These are some food combinations to avoid and favor. What you can personally digest depends on what you grew up on, how strong your Agni is, etc. Find what works for you and make gradual changes when making any changes to your diet.